INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING VETERINARY SERVICES (VS) FORM 17-129

(APPLICATION FOR IMPORT OR IN TRANSIT PERMIT)

***For faster and easier application submission and review by our office, please utilize our 

online system, APHIS eFile, to create and submit your application. If you are not completing the 

application in APHIS eFile, please fill out the PDF 17-129 application as instructed below”.

Before you fill out your VS Form 17-129 

There is a $150.00 processing fee for each new application submitted. Payment is 

required before an application can be processed. Payment can be made by check or 

money order made out to USDA, APHIS; credit cards (VISA, MasterCard, American 

Express, or Discover Card); or through a user fee account established with the Agency. 

A delay in payment will cause a delay in processing.

See example of VS 17-129 form below. 

Complete your VS Form 17-129

Complete boxes 1 through 14: Additional instructions are provided for the following:

In Box 5: Under the first column, list the number of animals. If a shipment is semen or 

embryos, indicate the number of doses, ampules, units or straws. For hatching eggs, 

please include number of eggs. Also, for bovine semen and embryos indicate if they are 

conventional, sexed or both.

In Box 5E: Purpose of Importation -- indicate if shipment is an importation or transit. 

Note: For animals transiting the United States by air to a third country, stops at U.S. 

airports may generally be made for crew change and refueling only. 

Unloading of animals during transits may be permitted under certain conditions approved 

in advance by APHIS. (Please contact the Strategy and Policy - Import Animals at the 

following phone number: 301-851-3300 or email: LAIPermits@usda.gov for information 

regarding any transits where animals may need to be unloaded.)

Transiting animals, semen, embryos, or hatching eggs are subject to supervision by VS 

port personnel. VS port personnel must be given at least 72 hours prior notice of exact 

time and date of arrival. For animals that are imported and intended for entry into the 

United States, please contact the individual quarantine facilities regarding any required 

quarantines for imported animals.

In Box 6: Make sure to include the name of ship/airline and the vessel/flight number.

List “TBD” if unknown at this time.

In Box 7 & Box 8: Permits for semen, embryos and most species of live animals are 

valid for 14 days from the proposed arrival date (30 days for fish, birds, poultry and 

hatching eggs). Please be as accurate as possible in listing proposed shipping and entry 

dates. 

In Box 12: Please include an email address. Applications will not be processed without 

an email address. Applicants should list their payment method (bank card information or 
a user fee account with the agency) and any additional information you wish to send. For 

bovine semen, please list the sexing facility approved address.

Submitting VS Form 17-129 

If completing VS Form 17-129 manually, email the signed, completed application to 

LAIPermits@usda.gov. 

Receiving Permits 

After receipt, permit applications will be reviewed. If all requirements for importation are 

met, a VS form 17-135 Permit to Import Animals, Semen or Embryos will be issued. 

Standard processing time is a minimum of 7 business days. 

Permits can be emailed electronically to applicants listing an email address in Box 12. 

For further assistance please call at (301) 851-3300. Questions may also be emailed to 

LAIPermits@usda.gov. 
 

 

 

 

 

No animals, animal semen, animal 

embryos, birds, poultry, or hatching 

eggs will be imported unless a 

completed application has been 

received (9 CFR Part 92 and 9 CFR 

Part 93). 

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not 

required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB 

control numbers for this information collection are 0579-0040, 0579-0055, 0579-0218, 0579-0228, 0579-0245, and 

0579-0473. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average between .16 and 2 hours 

per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and 

maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. 

OMB Approved 

0579-0040, 0579-0055, 

0579-0218, 0579-0228, 

0579-0245, 0579-0473

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE 

VETERINARY SERVICES 

APPLICATION FOR IMPORT OR IN TRANSIT PERMIT 

(Animals, Animal Semen, Animal Embryos, Birds, Poultry, or Hatching Eggs) 

INSTRUCTIONS TO IMPORTER: Complete and submit one copy to USDA, 

APHIS, VS, 4700 River Road, Unit 38, Riverdale, MD 20737. Prepare a separate 

application for each shipment. 

1. NAME AND ADDRESS OF SHIPPER IN COUNTRY OF ORIGIN 

2. NAME AND ADDRESS OF IMPORTER (include ZIP code) 3. PORT OF EMBARKATION (from Canada, show only for ocean vessel or airplane 

shipments) 

TELEPHONE NUMBER (include area code) 4. MODE OF TRANSPORTATION (name of airline or vessel and flight number) 

5. ANIMAL, ANIMAL SEMEN, ANIMAL EMBRYOS, BIRDS, POULTRY, OR HATCHING EGGS 

A. 

NUMBER 

B. 

BREED 

C. 

SPECIES 

D. DESCRIPTION 

(sex, age, registered name and number, tattoo, tag number, other markings) 

E. PURPOSE OF IMPORTATION 

6. ROUTE OF TRAVEL FROM ORIGIN TO FINAL DESTINATION INCLUDING ALL CARRIER STOPS ENROUTE 

(In city, country format; from Canada, show route of travel only for ocean vessel or airplane shipment) 

7. PROPOSED SHIPPING DATE (from Canada, show only for ocean vessel or airplane 

shipment) 

8. PROPOSED ARRIVAL DATE 

9. IMPORT QUARANTINE FACILITY (if applicable, also list a contagious equine metritis (CEM) quarantine facility) 

10. NAME AND MAILING ADDRESS OF PERSON TO WHOM DELIVERY 

WILL BE MADE (after quarantine, when required) 

TELEPHONE NUMBER (include Area code) 

11. WHERE DELIVERY WILL BE MADE IN THE UNITED STATES 

(after quarantine, when required) (physical location; no P.O. Boxes) 

12. REMARKS 

13. SIGNATURE OF IMPORTER 14. DATE SIGNED 

VS FORM 17-129 Previous edition may be used. 

DEC 2020